18-03-2025
Frackville seeks funding for sidewalks, curbs
FRACKVILLE — Funding is being sought for new sidewalks and curbs on a block of Lehigh Avenue, part of the borough's long-awaited streetscape revitalization project.
At the Frackville Borough Council's monthly meeting March 12, the council approved a motion for its engineering firm, Entech Engineering, to apply for the state Department of Community and Economic Development's Multimodal grant program. The grant would bring additional funding to replace sidewalks and curbing along the block from Spring to Frack streets, near the Frackville Free Public Library.
The decision marks an early step in the borough's ongoing project to reconstruct and beautify the main thoroughfare. Led by the volunteer group Frackville Downtown, the project aims to increase safety on the street and make it more pedestrian-friendly and visually appealing.
Last year, the borough was awarded a Multimodal grant to install lighting along the block.
Also at the meeting, an update was given on a previously proposed park at Lehigh and Oak streets.
Patti Domalakes, president of Frackville Downtown, said it appeared plans had fallen through for what was to be called Heritage Park, a small park on an empty plot of land owned by the borough.
After consulting with Strong Towns, a nonprofit dedicated to improving communities across the country, the group realized the cost for such a park would be exorbitant, even with grant money, Domalakes said.
'We're rethinking what to do with that plot,' she said.
Edward Erfurt, a representative of Strong Towns, suggested establishing a business in the lot and suggested the borough work with a group called Incremental Development Alliance to design the space, according to Domalakes.
Erfurt also said that an empty lot next to the library would be better suited for a park, Domalakes said.
